The boundless blue sea shimmered under the sunlight.
Several seabirds flew across the sky, and one particularly bold seabird landed lightly on the ship's railing.
Tilting its head, it curiously observed the people on the deck.
The next moment--
"Vomit--!"
Eris slumped weakly against the railing, her pretty face pale, and a torrent of what could only be described as "colorful" poured from her mouth.
The seabird was so frightened that its feathers bristled, and it flapped its wings and flew away in a panic.
" Rudeus... Us..."
Eris's legs went weak, and she staggered into Rudeus's arms.
Her long, red hair fell in disarray, and her usually bright, red eyes had lost their luster.
"I feel... I'm already a little bit dead..."
Rudeus couldn't help but chuckle.
"It's alright, Eris."
"It's just regular seasickness. I'll treat it for you, and you'll be fine soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hands.
A soothing, pale green power flowed gently from my palm, as soft as the new buds of early spring.
Rudeus gently pressed on Eris's temples, and the warm life force slowly seeped into her body, gradually soothing the nausea that was churning inside her.
Eris let out a soft, comfortable hum, her tense brows gradually relaxing.
He relaxed completely, even rubbing his hand against Rudeus's, a look of enjoyment on his face.
Just then...
"Vomit--!"
Another earth-shattering sound of vomiting came from the other side.
Talhand was also vomiting violently by the ship's side, his face turning completely green.
After a long while, he finally leaned on the railing and walked unsteadily toward Rudeus.
" Rudeus..."
He looked like he could collapse at any moment.
"Could you... treat me too?"
"Oh."
Rudeus didn't even look up, just waved his hand casually.
A pale green light flashed and disappeared.
"Alright."
"Ah?"
Talhand looked down at himself, then touched his head, his face full of confusion.
"This... this is all done?"
Then, he looked at Rudeus with a resentful expression.
"No... when you were treating that little girl, you were holding her and rubbing her, your movements were so gentle, like you were taking care of a baby."
"Why is it that when it's my turn, it's over with a wave of the hand?"
Rudeus naturally retorted:
"Otherwise what?"
"But... why do I still feel a little uncomfortable?"
"Psychological effect."
"..."
Talhand froze on the spot.
"Ha ha ha ha--"
Elinalise couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle softly; her silvery laughter was exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
" Talhand ~"
"She's a lovely girl, of course she deserves special treatment!"
As she spoke, her charming eyes curved into crescent moons, and she leaned closer to Rudeus with a smile.
"Handsome young man~"
I think I might be a little seasick too~
"Could you gently help them, just like you did before?"
"Can't."
Rudeus refused without hesitation.
"Huh--?"
Elinalise blinked, feigning grievance.
"How could he reject such an intellectual, beautiful, and mature older woman?"
Rudeus didn't answer, but continued to focus on restoring Eris's condition.
Seeing this, Elinalise couldn't help but pout and mutter to herself:
"What a clueless brat."
Roxy, standing on the other side of the ship's railing, watched this scene quietly.
The expression in those deep blue eyes was somewhat complicated.
When Rudeus looked over, she quickly looked away like a startled animal, turning her head toward the sea.
"Teacher."
Rudeus spoke with a smile.
Are you not feeling well either?
"My Healing Magic are quite powerful; they can relieve not only physical fatigue but also mental stress."
"Want to give it a try?"
"Ah..."
Roxy paused for a moment, then gently shook her head.
"No, no need."
After a pause, she looked at Rudeus again, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"But Rudeus, I've always been very curious about him."
"How exactly did you manage to search for survivors across such a vast Demon Continent?"
"If the teacher wants to know."
Rudeus smiled.
"Then I'll just say it directly."
"The teacher should know Armored Dragon King Perugius, right?"
"Certainly."
Roxy nodded seriously.
"One of the Seven Heroes, a legendary figure who fought against the Demon God Laplace —this is something almost everyone knows."
"Actually, I'm friends with Armored Dragon King."
"Huh--?"
Roxy's eyes widened immediately.
"Could it be... that everything you wrote in your letter is true?"
"I thought you were joking."
"Of course it's true. I once studied Spirit Summoning under the Armored Dragon King at the Floating Fortress."
"And what I rely on to find the refugees is the familiar I summoned."
"Familiar?"
A keen interest flashed in Roxy's eyes.
"What kind of familiar is it?"
Elinalise and Talhand immediately gathered around.
"Since that's the case."
Rudeus smiled slightly.
"Then let you see for yourselves."
He called out in a low voice:
" Yanli."
In an instant.
The shadow beneath my feet shimmered with a purple glow.
Immediately afterwards, a petite and delicate figure slowly appeared.
A delicate and lovely girl with long purple hair cascading down to her waist stood quietly beside me, bowing slightly in greeting.
"Owner."
Talhand was completely dumbfounded.
"This... this is your familiar?"
Elinalise stroked her chin and nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
"You like this petite and cute type, huh?"
Rudeus rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Roxy was still staring blankly at Yanli, seemingly not yet recovered from the shock.
" Yanli."
"Show everyone your abilities."
"Yes, sir."
The girl nodded gently.
The next moment.
Her entire body transformed into several purple specks of light, spreading outwards like smoke.
The points of light did not dissipate, but continued to coalesce in the air.
one...
two...
Ten...
In just a few seconds, ten Yanli appeared on the deck at the same time.
Each one is so lifelike, each one exudes the breath of real life.
This bizarre and spectacular scene instantly plunged the entire ship into a deathly silence.
Immediately afterwards.
Gasps of astonishment filled the air.
At the same time, the familiar system notification sounded in Rudeus's mind again.
[Ding! Emotion Points +...]
[Ding! Emotion Points +...]
[Ding! Emotion Points +...]
The continuous beeping was almost constant.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"Do you understand now?"
" Yanli's true ability is to create clones."
Rudeus intended to continue explaining the details of his ability, but after glancing at the surrounding passengers, he swallowed his words.
Some abilities are ultimately not meant to be exposed too thoroughly.
Then he changed the subject.
"In short, all the surviving refugees that could be found on the Demon Continent have been properly resettled."
"Next, we will continue to travel the world."
"Until all the missing persons have been found."
Rudeus's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire ship.
A moment later.
A murmur of discussion immediately broke out on the deck.
"That's truly amazing..."
"This is a truly respectable person."
"As expected of Primordial God Impact, it has been quietly saving so many people all this time."
"From this day forward, I am Primordial God Impact's most loyal follower!"
Hearing the heartfelt praises around her, Roxy's gaze toward Rudeus grew even more determined.
Rudeus.
We will also do our part.
Elinalise smiled and nodded:
"After all, Zenith was also involved in that disaster. No matter what, we will accompany you in finding her."
Talhand nodded solemnly in agreement:
Count me in.
"Thanks."
Rudeus nodded respectfully to the three of them.
Just then, Roxy suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right."
" Rudeus, have you found Zenith and Lilia?"
Rudeus nodded slightly.
"While in the Demon Continent, I met the Demon Emperor, Kishirika."
"It was from her that I learned the whereabouts of the two mothers."
Upon hearing this, the Man-God immediately turned serious, Rudeus continued:
" Lilia is currently located in the Shirone Kingdom on the Central Continent."
"She is currently very safe and is being treated as a VIP by the kingdom, enjoying the highest level of hospitality."
Hearing this, all three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
As for Zenith...
She is sealed away in an ancient ruin somewhere on the Begaritt Continent.
According to Kishirika, she is not in immediate danger.
"However, that ruin has always been guarded by extremely powerful demons, so rescuing her will not be an easy task."
Roxy sighed softly.
"It seems... the real danger is Zenith."
"Yes."
Elinalise's expression also became serious.
"We can only hope she can hold on until we get there."
Rudeus gazed at the ever-undulating sea in the distance, remaining silent for a long time.
The scene from that day reappeared in my mind.
That disaster swept through the entire Fittoa Region.
That white pillar of light that swallowed the heavens and earth.
That immense power, almost like a god descending to earth.
That was a power that could not be explained by ordinary magic; it was God Rank calamity that could truly shake the heavens and the earth.
The entire Fittoa Region vanished into nothingness in an instant.
Its coverage area is comparable to that of a large city.
Even now, when he recalls that scene, he still feels a deep sense of powerlessness.
At the time, I did consider stopping it.
Rather... they were simply powerless to stop it.
Sometimes, the cruelest thing about fate is never that you don't have the courage to change it.
It is only when you stretch out your hands with all your might that you realize you are still far from the truth and power.